Economy Class & Beyond

Avianca Brasil enters Star Alliance

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Star Alliance grew yesterday, and added an important tick in its network coverage with Avianca Brasil joining the alliance. Star Alliance welcoming Avianca Brasil - Image, Star Alliance Avianca Brasil has been the odd child out in the Avianca family, originally founded as Ocean Air in 1998, and purchased by Synergy Group (owner of Avianca) in 2004. It missed the initial join … [Read more...]

Air India to join Star Alliance on 11th July

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It's been a very long time coming, with two attempts to do it, but it seems that Air India will finally join Star Alliance on 11th July 2014. Air India Boeing 787 coming into land at London Heathrow - Image, GhettoIFE. At Star Alliance's Chief Executive Board meeting, Air India's membership of the airline group was approved.  This will make Air India the first Indian airline … [Read more...]

Deja-vu: Guess who has been invited to join Star Alliance… AGAIN?

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You've guessed it - It's AIR INDIA, who has got an invite into Star Alliance, to recommence the integration of the carrier that was halted in 2011. Mark Schwab, Star Alliance CEO states "Today we see an Air India which has successfully completed its merger with Indian Airlines and is building up a new fleet that forms the basis for a much improved level of service. This … [Read more...]

EVA Air takes delivery of an A321… with Sharklets!

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Continuing the theme of winglets on planes - or as Airbus calls them "Sharklets", EVA Air becomes the second operator to operate the Airbus A321 (the stretched A320) with new Sharklets. EVA Air A321 - Image: Airbus (also wearing testing registration and a German registry...) Those of you who have a keen eye will note this plane is not painted in EVA Air's normal … [Read more...]

EVA Air joins Star Alliance

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EVA Air formally joins Star Alliance as of today. The airline operates to 60 airports in the world from it's bases at Taipei, and add Kaohsiung in Taiwan and Surabaya in Indonesia. Those of you with Avianca LifeMiles and who are miffed about them being devalued might be able to extract some value from them as redemption space is now open on EVA Air flights (Canadian … [Read more...]

Star Alliance waits 365 days for Heathrow T2

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Heathrow Terminal 2 is coming along nicely at the movement, with a target day of opening in 365 days time - 4th June 2014 according to a release by Star Alliance today. Star Alliance currently operates from T1, T3 and T4 at Heathrow, with the following splits: T1: Lufthansa, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Aeagan, United, US Airways, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, TAP Portugal, LOT, … [Read more...]

A Last Star Fling? So… No More Star Alliance for me?

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A Last Star Alliance Fling? To Chicago with United Airlines and Air Canada LHR-IAD-ORD, ORD-YYZ-LHR So... No more Star Alliance flying for me? Index: An Apology and The Introduction To London Heathrow, BMI Lounge, Star Alliance Lounge United UA923 London Heathrow – Washington Dulles International TSA Shenanigans, United UA221 Washington Dulles to … [Read more...]

A Last Star Fling? Homeward Bound

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A Last Star Alliance Fling? To Chicago with United Airlines and Air Canada LHR-IAD-ORD, ORD-YYZ-LHR Homeward Bound. Index: An Apology and The Introduction To London Heathrow, BMI Lounge, Star Alliance Lounge United UA923 London Heathrow – Washington Dulles International TSA Shenanigans, United UA221 Washington Dulles to Chicago … [Read more...]

A Last Star Fling? Air Canada AC856 Toronto Pearson – London Heathrow

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A Last Star Alliance Fling? To Chicago with United Airlines and Air Canada LHR-IAD-ORD, ORD-YYZ-LHR Air Canada AC856 Toronto Pearson International - London Heathrow T3 (Including the joy of Canadian Immigration and the Air Canada O’Hare and United Club B7) Index: An Apology and The Introduction To London Heathrow, BMI Lounge, Star Alliance Lounge … [Read more...]